Say What? – Carrie Underwood

As reported by Billboard, Carrie Underwood’s response to being offered a free copy of Miranda Lambert’s new album, Revolution:

No. I’m going to buy it.

Gotta love that!

Billboard’s been previewing some new tracks from Underwood’s upcoming third album, Play On. I’ve found “Temporary Home” and “Mama’s Song” to be far more promising previews of the new set than lead single “Cowboy Casanova.”

“Temporary Home” will also be available for purchase on iTunes starting October 20th as part of the iTunes Countdown to Play On, where a song is released each week for 3 weeks prior to the album release. “Mama’s Song” is already available on iTunes now. “Undo It” will be available October 27th.

Also, you can watch Carrie’s Walmart Soundcheck performances and interview here:http://soundcheck.walmart.com/carrie-underwood
There is additional material, including an interview with producer Mark Bright, under the All Access Pass section. The performance of “Mama’s Song” will be added November 2nd.

“I’ve found “Temporary Home” and “Mama’s Song to be far more promising than the lead single, “Cowboy Casanova.”

Amen to that, Kevin. Although I love CC now, it took a few listens to really grow on me. It’s not a great song, but I still think it’s a refreshing change from her usual material. She didn’t sound believable on the recorded version of “Last Name,” but I really think she sounds comfortable here.

It’s welcoming to see the “Before He Cheats”/”Last Name’ saga ended on this album. Although I loved both songs, it’d nice to see her neglecting to tread the same path over and over.

I really feel like Carrie has grown in leaps and bounds in terms of really connecting with her songs. I really noticed it last year when I heard “Just A Dream,” but I’m pleasantly surprised to see it continue with “Mama’s Song,” “Temporary Home” and probably quite a few others on the album.

I’m loving the perfect balance of tardtional sounding material mixed it with a little rock and pop.

I really respect that Carrie really IS growing as an artist, performer and interpeter; I feel like so many artists mistakenly say this without merit behind it.

I didn’t really know what to expect from this album, but so far I am extremely impressed.

“Temporary Home” is now available on iTunes. This is definitely the best song Carrie has written so far and arguably her best recorded vocal. Scratch that, I actually think this IS her best recorded vocal. I intensely dislike when others use superlatives and I don’t use them myself but I’m ready to do so for this song. Chills-inducing. Tearjerking. Awesomeness. I especially love the third verse and last chorus.

Kinda useless to claim this is Carrie’s best co-writing work without providing the lyrics, but please, if you have to listen to just one Carrie song, I highly recommend this one:

Little boy, six years old
A little too used to being alone
Another new mom and dad, another school
Another house that’ll never be home
When people ask him how he likes this place
He looks up and says with a smile upon his face

This is my temporary home
It’s not where I belong
Windows and rooms that I’m passing through
This is just a stop on the way to where I’m going
I’m not afraid because I know
This is my temporary home

A young mom on her own
She needs a little help, got nowhere to go
She’s looking for a job, looking for a way out
‘Cause a halfway house will never be a home
At night she whispers to her baby girl
Someday we’ll find our place here in this world

This is our temporary home
It’s not where we belong
Windows and rooms that we’re passing through
This is just a stop on the way to where we’re going
I’m not afraid because I know
This is our temporary home

Old man, hospital bed
The room is filled with people he loves
And he whispers, “don’t cry for me,
I’ll see you all someday”
He looks up and says
“I can see God’s face”

This is my temporary home
It’s not where I belong
Windows and rooms that I’m passing through
This was just a stop on the way to where I’m going
I’m not afraid because I know
This was my temporary home

“Miranda Lambert! She gets attention and people know who she is, of course, but I’d lose an award to her any day. I just think she’s supertalented and really sweet and fun. I think she deserves more accolades. She gets some, but she deserves more.”